Iron fence



S. W. MARTIN.

Modem IRON FENCE.

Patented Nov. 1,1881.

UNiT-ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL W. MARTIN, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

IRON FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 249,066, dated November 1, 1881.

Application filed August 3, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL W. MARTIN, of Springfield, in the county of Clarke and State of Ohio, have invented certain Improvements in Iron Fences,of which thefollowingis a specification.

My invention relates to that class of inventions in which horizontal picket-sustainin g rails are connected to and supported by vertical posts, the rails and posts being usually constructed of metal, the inetal'being ordinarily of tubular form.

The object is to provide a cheap and simple means of connecting the rails and posts, which will permit the rails to be placed at such an inclination as will conform to the surface of the ground, while the posts remain in a vertical position.

To this end the invention consists in combining with the vertical post a divided clasp surrounding the same, and provided with a journal on one side, a sleeve mounted upon said journal to sustain the rail, and provided with an internal thread, by which the end of the rail is caused to compress the clasp around the post.

The device is susceptible of modification in its minor details without departing from the limits of my invention; but the accompanying drawings represent the device in the form in which it is usually constructed.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a fence post and rails connected by my improved device. Fig. 2 is a perspective view, showing the parts of the device separated from each other. Fig.3isavertical central sectionthrough my coupling in position upon a post in a plane at right angles to the line of the fence-rail; and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line .r m, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the upright tubular fence-post; B, the horizontal rail, also of tubular form; 0, the clasp surrounding the post; and D, the rail-supportingsocket, mounted upon the side of the clasp O. The clasp O is constructed, as shown in the drawings, of suitable form to encircle the post, with an opening on one side, and a centrally-divided journal or trunnion, a, extending laterally from the two sides of the opening. This trunnion a is made of circular form in cross- (Model) section, and has on one side a recess or depression, b, to receive the end of the rail, as hereinafter described.

The socket D consists of a cylindrical body of suitable diameter to admit the ends of the rails, and provided with a transverse hole or opening, 0, to receive the supporting-journal or trunnion a. The socket is provided in one end with a screw-thread, (1, adapted to receive a correspondingly-threaded end of the rail B. In assembling the parts the clasp O is slipped over the post, the socket D applied .to the journal or trunnion a, and the end of the rail screwed into the socket in the manner represented in the drawings, so as to bear against the recessed side of the divided trunnion and force the two parts together, thereby contracting the clasp firmly around the post and causing it to remain rigidly in position thereon.

It will be seen that while the socket and rail serve to secure the clasp upon the post, the clasp in turn serves to sustain the socket, and the rail parts are united firmly and securely to each other when the rail is screwed up to its seat. The recess 1) serves to receive the end of the rail, and thus prevents the rail and socket from being accidentally forced off from the trunnion orjournal.

It will be observed that the trunnion serves as a pivotal support for the socket, and consequently the socket and rail may be given any inclination required to suit the grade or inclination of the ground upon which the fence is located, the post remaining in a vertical position.

In constructing the fence each section of rail will have one end threaded and seated in a socket, as shown, and the opposite end seated loosely in the socket upon'the next post, to allow for expansion and contraction.

My device admits of the parts being readily united and of the rails being adjusted quickly to any required height upon the posts, a slight backward rotation of the rail servingto release the parts.

It will, of course, be understood that in constructing fences on my plan the posts will be provided with two or more rails, as desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The improved device for uniting fence rails and posts, the same consisting of the divided clasp O and the threaded socket D 1nount ed thereon, substantially as described.

2. The divided clasp 0, having the divided 5 trunnion a, with recess therein, in combination with the socket D, provided with the transverse opening 0 and screw-thread d.

3. The combination of the vertical post, the divided clasp encircling the same, the socket 10 mounted upon the journal of the clasp, and the fence-rail screwed into the socket against the journal.

4. In a fence, the combination of a post, a journaled clasp seated thereon, and a rail-supporting socket seated upon said journal, sub- 15 stantially as described and shown.

SAMUEL W. MARTIN.

Witnesses:

G. E. HIGHLEY, (J. 0. KIRKPATRICK. 

